Dolphins DE Dion Jordan will sit out the 1st 4 games after violating the league's PED policy.  Jordan admitted to using the stimulant that showed up in the test and said he takes full responsibility for the violation.  Of course, that doesn't help his outlook.  Jordan did almost nothing as a rookie after Miami traded up to #3 overall to select him in 2013.  The team has been hoping for a breakthrough year, but the suspension will make it more difficult for Jordan to steal playing time from starting DEs Olivier Vernon and Cameron Wake.  Jordan's off the draft radar for 2014 IDP leagues.

The Dolphins have placed DE Dion Jordan on the reserve/non-football injury list with a knee injury they didn't previously know about, according to ESPN's James Walker. "Him coming in here, that [injury] was news to us," HC Adam Gase said. "When you don't have contact with somebody for as long as we did, you don't know every little detail of what's going on. So that was the decision that we had to make and we'll see how every goes moving forward." Jordan's return timeline reportedly could be "several weeks." So Miami's defense -- and anyone looking at the unit in fantasy or drafting IDPs -- will need to consider Jordan a non-factor until we actually see him on the field.

The NFL has reinstated Dolphins DE Dion Jordan after a 1-year drug suspension. Jordan returns to a Miami team with Cameron Wake, Mario Williams and Andre Branch at his position. That makes for a talented group. But Wake's 34 and coming off a torn Achilles' tendon. Williams is 31 and coming off 1 of his most disappointing seasons. And Branch failed to last beyond his 1st contract with a Jacksonville team that has struggled to find a pass rush. If Jordan's ready to deliver on the talent that got him drafted 3rd overall -- in the final year of his rookie contract -- he should find opportunity. We'll see how this goes before targeting him in IDP drafts, though, or upgrading the Miami team defense.

The league has suspended Dolphins DE Dion Jordan for the entire 2015 season after another violation of the league substance-abuse policy. That follows a pair of 4-game bans in 2014 for PED use and the substance-abuse policy. Barring some successful appeal, Jordan will be at least 26 when he takes the field next, with just 26 games played and 3 sacks to his credit. He'll need to prove that he's not going to totally waste the talent that got him drafted 3rd overall in 2013. His absence can only help DE Olivier Vernon stay on the field.

Dolphins DE Dion Jordan had his existing 4-game PED suspension lifted under the new league drug policy but will still miss 4 more games. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Jordan drew a new 4-game suspension for a substance-abuse violation.  “I am currently undergoing treatment to address my situation,” Jordan said in a statement. “I am working hard to become a better man and to make better choices in the future."  Let's hope Jordan's treatment consists of his mom slapping the back of his head and shouting, "Grow up!"  If the team is truly still supporting Jordan, then he remains a promising long-term IDP prospect.  But it's tough to expect regular fantasy contributions after he returns to the team Oct. 20.  Olivier Vernon remains a solid -- if not special -- right DE.

Dolphins HC Joe Philbin told the Miami Herald on Tuesday that 2nd-year DE Dion Jordan "will make a big jump this year."  That, of course, seems like what we all should expect from Jordan.  Miami traded up to the #3 spot in last April's NFL Draft to get him and then played the former Oregon Duck just 339 snaps.  Philbin, however, also said that DE Derrick Shelby deserves more snaps as well and that he views Jordan as a DE, not an OLB.  That'll make it tough to carve out a big role behind starters Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon (and his 11.5 sacks from 2013).  Perhaps Philbin realized this in following up by saying, "We see (Jordan's) role increasing somewhat."  Don't look for Jordan to deliver starting value for your IDP squad in 2014.  Frankly, we'd love to see new GM Dennis Hickey trade Jordan to a more favorable situation.